Bengaluru: The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) in its prelim report to the Upa Lokayuktha, has blamed  the foam and the fire on the lack of treatment plants and release of trade effluents from nearby industries. There are treatment plants only at two of the 17 inlet points. In the remaining in-let points, sewage water directly enters the lake, causing pollution, the BWSSB’s engineer-in-chief, T Venkataraju, stated.

Establishing treatment plants at all in-let points may cost around Rs 1,000 crore, the report stated. In respect of Nagasandra slum, Nagasandra Colony, Iblur, Agaram, Agaram Pump House and ST Bed (Shanivagilu Tank) Koramangala, the work is under progress. Venkataraju submitted that government sanction was necessary to set up treatment plants at all in-let points in the vast area of lake, around 471 acres.

The BWSSB engineer-in-chief also stated that there are almost 110 villages around Varthur and Bellandur lakes. “The BWSSB submitted that close to 500 industries are situated at different places and trade effluents enter Bellandur and Varthur lakes. Large quantity of chemicals and other minerals entering the lake has caused the recent fire.

This apart, most of the storm water drains connecting both the lakes have been encroached upon. As a result, free flow of water from Agara lake to Bellandur and from Bellandur to Varthur and downstream has been blocked. This has resulted in large quantity of foam formation at the narrow storm water area,” Upa Lokayukta Justice Subhash B Adi said.

According to the deputy commissioner of Bengaluru Urban, the Varthur and Bellandur lakes are spread over 919 acres; Varthur lake alone spans about 448 acres. Seven surveyors are engaged in the survey which would take 15 more days to get over. They are also identifying encroachments around both the lakes, he submitted. On his part, the chief engineer (Lakes) of the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) submitted that fencing of the lakes could be completed only after encroachments were identified and cleared.

Environmentalists and residents of the nearby area have told the Upa Lokayukta that the Sewage Water Plants (STPs) set up by the BWSSB and apartments will not reduce the water pollution. Despite treatment, nitrate and phosphorous continues to remain in the water and it was unfit for consumption. “The environmentalists stated that so far as Bellandur and Varthur lake are concerned, the provision for wetland is necessary after the discharge of sewage water treatment. There is a valley between Bellandur and Varthur which could be used as wetland for bioremediation. Besides, the two lakes can be used as tourism spots. Development of these lakes requires the involvement of senior officials and experts to evolve a permanent solution at the earliest,” Justice Adi said.

The Upa Lokayukta has called a high-level meeting on June 4 and directed the Additional Chief Secretary (Urban Development Department), the chairman of the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board, the managing director of the Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation and Prof P V Ramachandra of the Centre for Environmental Sciences from IISc to be present.

70 nodal officers to oversee debris clearance

The BBMP has submitted to the Upa Lokayukta that 70 nodal officers have been appointed to oversee the clearance of debris in the City, including below the Namma Metro lines.

Bangalore Political Action Committee (BPAC) had submitted a complaint to the Upa Lokayukta, along with 700 photographs of debris and garbage dumped below the Green and Purple Metro lines.

The Additional Commissioner of BBMP submitted that within two weeks the debris and garbage below the Metro lines will be cleared. The BBMP will take steps to prevent such dumpings.

“The Additional Commissioner, who was present on behalf of the Commissioner, submitted that 70 nodal officers have been engaged for supervising the Swaccha Bengaluru Abhiyana. He assured that within a fortnight the places identified by complainants where garbage appears to have been dumped would be cleared and in this regard, he would file an affidavit of undertaking of the Commissioner,” Upa Lokayukta Justice Subhash B Adi said.  

The General Manager of BMRCL submitted that on the medians below the operational metro lines, varieties of bougainvillea would be planted as part of beautification efforts and as a way of preventing dumping of garbage in the next six months.

He also assured that BMRCL would also take effective steps to prevent dumping of garbage or debris below the Metro lines.

On the issue of advertisement hoardings displayed on Metro pillars, B A Vasanth Rao, General Manager of BMRCL, stated that the advertisement agencies have obtained licences from BBMP. However, K Mathai, Assistant Commissioner (Advertisement) BBMP, stated that it has to be verified whether agencies quoted by BMRCL have genuine licences. He said if no licence was issued, action will be taken against such advertisers.

“I have adjourned the complaint for submission of compliance report. At the same time, I have suggested the Commissioner of BBMP to consider imposing heavy spot fine on persons dumping garbage or debris in public places. It is also better to fix CCTV cameras for keeping vigil,” Justice Adi said.